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Export App Center Build configuration to Azure Pipelines

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Important

Visual Studio App Center is scheduled for retirement on March 31, 2025. While you can continue to use Visual Studio App Center until it is fully retired, there are several recommended alternatives that you may consider migrating to.

Learn more about support timelines and alternatives.

Overview

With App Center, you can export all of your App Center Build configurations to Azure Pipelines using the Build export feature. You can download JSON or YAML file and import it into Azure Pipelines.

While direct migration of App Center Build configurations to Azure Pipelines is the easiest option, it might not be well optimized for your particular application. Consider building Azure Pipelines from scratch for a more optimized experience (Android, Xcode, Xamarin)

Prerequisites

You'll need an Azure DevOps project where you'll import a Build configuration. You can create a new project or use an existing one.

(Optional) Add Service Connection for App Center Tasks

If you have App Center Test or App Center Distribute integrated into your Build configuration, you'll need to create a Service Connection

  1. Navigate to Azure DevOps Project Settings -> Pipelines -> Service connections
  2. Select 'New Service connection'
  3. Search for 'Visual Studio App Center' -> Next
  4. Create API token, give the connection a name and Save it

Export using the JSON file

Export JSON file from the App Center Build page.

  1. Navigate to the App Center portal
  2. Choose your application
  3. Go to the Build section, choose your branch, and select export Click Export
  4. Select 'Download' and choose 'Download JSON'

Change the Project ID in JSON file

Get your Azure DevOps project's ID

  1. Navigate to the URL below and copy your project's ID
https://dev.azure.com/{organization}/_apis/projects?api-version=6.0

Project ID 2. Paste your project ID into the project parameter in the JSON file

Edit JSON

Create Azure Pipeline

  1. Navigate to Azure DevOps -> Pipelines -> Import a Pipeline and choose downloaded JSON file Import Pipeline
  2. In Pipeline section, choose Hosted (Azure Pipelines) under the Agent Pool parameter
  3. Choose the latest macOS Microsoft-hosted agent under the Agent Specification parameter
  4. In Get Sources section, add a connection to your application's repository

(Optional) Upload signing files and update passwords

If you use code signing in your App Center Build configurations, you'll need to upload respective files to the Azure Pipelines using Secure file feature. Additionally, you need to update password variables stored in pipelines

Android

  1. Upload a keystore file to your Azure DevOps project
  2. Update keystorePassword, keyAlias, keyPassword, and keystoreFilename variables

iOS/macOS

  1. Upload provisioning profiles and certificates to your Azure DevOps project
  2. Update P12Password, P12Filename, and MobileProvisionFilename variables

Windows (UWP)

  1. Upload a certificate to your Azure DevOps project
  2. Update packageCertificatePassword, packageCertificateFileName, and packageCertificateBase64String

If you have App Center Distribute or App Center Test integrated, you'll need to modify the respective tasks

  1. Navigate to Azure DevOps -> Pipelines
  2. Select your imported pipelines and select Edit
  3. Find App Center tasks and choose previously created service connection in `App Center service connection' parameter Service Connection

Export using the YAML file

Export YAML file from the App Center Build page.

  1. Navigate to the App Center portal
  2. Choose your application
  3. Go to the Build section, choose your branch, and select export Click Export
  4. Select 'Download' and choose 'Download YAML'

Configure your repository to work with Azure Pipelines

  1. Commit downloaded azure-pipelines.yml file to your application's repository
  2. Navigate to Azure DevOps -> Pipelines -> Create Pipeline
  3. Choose where your code is located
  4. Review your pipeline and select Run

More information regarding the YAML pipeline creation process can be found here.

(Optional) Upload signing files and update passwords

If you use code signing in your App Center Build configurations, you'll need to upload respective files to the Azure Pipelines using Secure file feature. Additionally, you need to update password variables stored in pipelines

Android

  1. Upload a keystore file to your Azure DevOps project
  2. Create keystorePassword, keyAlias, keyPassword, and keystoreFilename secret variables in Azure Pipelines
  3. Update the YAML file with the created secret variables
...
  keystorePassword: $(keystorePassword)
  keyAlias: $(keyAlias)
  keyPassword: $(keyPassword)
  keystoreFilename: $(keystoreFilename)
...

iOS/macOS

  1. Upload provisioning profiles and certificates to your Azure DevOps project
  2. Create P12Password, P12Filename, and MobileProvisionFilename secret variables in Azure Pipelines
  3. Update the YAML file with the created secret variables
...
  P12Password: $(P12Password)
  P12Filename: $(P12Filename)
  MobileProvisionFilename: $(MobileProvisionFilename)
...

Windows (UWP)

  1. Upload a certificate to your Azure DevOps project
  2. Create packageCertificatePassword, packageCertificateFileName, and packageCertificateBase64String secret variables in Azure Pipelines
  3. Update the YAML file with the created secret variables
...
  packageCertificatePassword: $(packageCertificatePassword)
  packageCertificateBase64String: $(packageCertificateFileName)
  packageCertificateFileName: $(packageCertificateBase64String)
...

(Optional) Authorize newly created pipeline to use App Center service connection

If you have App Center Distribute or Test integrated, you'll need to authorize pipelines to use the service connection.

  1. Open the currently running job, you'll see a message regarding permissions
  2. Select on the running job and Permit access to the service connection Permit